Saturday, April 10, 2010
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By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA

Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who died Saturday in a plane crash in Russia, was a one-time anti-communist activist who teamed up with his twin brother to take his country in a nationalist, conservative direction.

Kaczynski, 60, pursued a strongly pro-U.S. line in foreign relations, in accordance with a cross-party consensus that has grown in Poland since the fall of communism. He was an enthusiastic backer of plans to site a U.S. missile defense facility in the country, the largest of the European Union's new eastern members.

However, the prickly nationalism of Kaczynski and his identical twin brother, Jaroslaw — who served for a time as prime minister and is now opposition leader — sometimes complicated ties with European neighbors and Russia.

Kaczynski served as Poland's justice minister in 2000-2001, and his tough stance against crime laid the foundations for the popularity that would fuel his later rise to the presidency.

He became mayor of Warsaw in 2001, and won respect for a no-nonsense style and plain-speaking reputation.

Our country needs renewal, the renewal of public life," Kaczynski has said.

Kaczynski's popularity declined as head of state, however. In 2007, his identical twin brother was voted out as prime minister after a two-year stint in which he failed to hold together a shaky coalition with small, unpredictable populist parties.

Kaczynski was a firm friend of Poland's Jewish community, which has enjoyed a revival in recent years after it was nearly wiped out in the Holocaust and later suffered from communist-era repression.

Kaczynski was killed along with wife, Maria, an economist. He is survived by the couple's daughter, Marta; two granddaughters, Ewa and Martyna; his twin brother, Jaroslaw; and the twins' mother, Jadwiga.

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Polish President Lech Kaczynski including the country's highest military and civilian leaders died on Saturday when the presidential plane crashed as it came in for a landing in thick fog in western Russia. The fatal plane crash killed at least 96 passengers who were on board.

Late President Lech Kaczynski

Russian and Polish officials said there were no survivors on the 26-year-old Tupolev, which was taking the president, his wife and staff to events marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police.

The crash devastated the upper echelons of Poland's political and military establishments. On board were the army chief of staff, national bank president, deputy foreign minister, army chaplain, head of the National Security Office, deputy parliament speaker, civil rights commissioner and at least two presidential aides and three lawmakers, the Polish foreign ministry said.

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From Tokunbo Adedoja in Washington D.C
United States has said the Federal Government has “enough information” to act on the Halliburton bribery scandal in which some top Nigerian government officials and politicians were fingered.

Speaking at the Foreign Press Center in Washington D.C., US on Wednesday, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Rene Sanders said it was not true that her country did not give necessary information to the Federal Government to enable it prosecute those involved in the bribery scandal.

Sanders said: “We have been cooperating fully with the Nigerian authorities on all of those cases”.

The engineering subsidiary of Halliburton Co., Kellog Brown & Root (KBR) Inc. of the US, had pleaded guilty to five federal charges that it paid $180 million as bribes to some high profile Nigerian officials in the Executive branch, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in respect of a contract worth $6 billion.

The Federal Government had said $150 million of the bribe money had been traced to an unnamed account in Zurich, Switzerland.

But the real identities of the Nigerian government officials that received the bribes have not been officially released.

The Federal Government had also said it formally requested the US government to assist Nigeria by de-classifying the information of the court proceedings in the US in respect of the scandal but that, that government had failed to do so.

In 2008, the Federal Government put in place an inter-security agency committee headed by former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro to investigate the Halliburton bribe-for-contract scandal.

At the press conference jointly addressed by the US envoy and her Nigerian counterpart, Professor Adebowale Adefuye, Sanders said: “Nigerian government and ministers have that information and they have enough information to act on their own as there are other countries that are involved and they have the same degree of access to those countries as we do.

“We know that that information has been with the Nigerian government for quite sometime and with the previous ministers that have held that ministerial position. So that information is there and is there for you to act on as your laws and your nation deems fit.”

Sanders, however, announced US endorsement of the ongoing banking reforms, saying it forms part of the framework to tackle corruption.

She said US hopes that those who compromised their positions in the sector would be taken through the nation’s judicial process.

“I like to seize this opportunity to talk about the banking reforms and we are hoping that Nigeria still moves forward on the banking reforms as part of your corruption framework or part of your anti-corruption framework. And secondly, those individuals who took advantage of shareholders, in the context of their positions, we hope that those individuals are taken through the judicial process as part of Nigeria’s commitment to rule of law and anti-corruption efforts,”

On what US is doing to help strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade, Sanders said the US embassy in Nigeria has been providing training programmes for all the law enforcement agencies on money laundering, suspicious transaction reports and handling of currency confirmation evidence.

She said her country has also been providing technical assistance to the nation’s anti-corruption agencies with a view to enhancing their capabilities.

Commenting on the fears about the next general election and how US intends to assist Nigeria, Sanders said her country had been expressing the view that it does not see the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as presently constituted as laying the foundation that can produce fair and credible elections in 2011.

Sanders said US would like to see an electoral body that has a clear dedicated leadership that would ensure that Nigeria has transparent elections in 2011.

She noted US would be working with Nigeria under the bi-national commission signed last Tuesday between the two countries to strengthen the election process that would ensure transparent, free, fair and credible polls.

This, she said, involves a number of changes including better leadership in INEC and transparent voters’ register, among others.

Responding to a question on the image crisis Nigeria is experiencing as a result of advance fee fraud and scam emails, Adefuye said such allegations are unfair to Nigeria.

The Nigerian envoy said there were instances when the embassy had been informed of criminal cases affecting ‘Nigerians’, only to later discover that those involved are blacks from other African countries.

He noted that the population of Nigeria is more than that of all the countries in West Africa put together, and as such, the world should realise that with such a huge population, it is not unusual for Nigeria to have its own share of miscreants.

Adefuye said this does not, however, take away the fact that the larger population is made up of responsible, hard-working, intelligent and enterprising people.

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Dr. Van Edward Scott's mugshotDr. Van Edward Scott

A Lawrence County doctor, said by authorities to be the highest prescriber of pain medication in the state, has been arrested along with several of his patients on charges that he illegally prescribed massive quantities of powerful pain medications, which were resold on the streets.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said in a news release today that the suspects were part of a large-scale illegal oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl and methadone distribution ring in Beaver, Mercer and Lawrence counties.

Mr. Corbett said the investigation focused on Dr. Van Edward Scott, 58, of New Wilmington, Lawrence County, who began practicing medicine in Pennsylvania in 2004. He has operated two offices in New Castle, originally at State Street and currently on Enclave Drive. He formerly was an emergency room doctor in Detroit.

Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

According to the grand jury, Dr. Scott is the highest prescriber of Schedule II controlled substances in Pennsylvania. In one year, Dr. Scott allegedly wrote prescriptions for 2.19 million doses, which was 60 percent higher than the second-highest prescriber in the state.

Agents estimate that 2.19 million doses would have a street value of at least $50 million.

Mr. Corbett said that during the summer of 2009, Dr. Scott had approximately 509 patients who were charged a monthly fee. Dr. Scott did not accept insurance and each patient was required to pay with cash, check or money order.

Mr. Corbett said that Dr. Scott allegedly spent very little time with his patients and did not take vital signs or provide any meaningful physical exam during office visits.

According to the grand jury, patients reported their physical conditions, requested an increase in current medication, or requested additional drugs, quantities and strengths. Dr. Scott then allegedly provided the patient with the requested prescriptions even though they were not medically required.

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Dr. Van Edward Scott

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A New Castle doctor has been charged with over prescribing painkillers to patients, 11 of whom are also charged with reselling the drugs on the street. State prosecutors said Dr. Van Edward Scott prescribed 2.19 million doses of painkillers in one year, 60 percent more than any other doctor in the state. The drugs have a street value of $50 million.

But defense attorney Michael Frisk said Scott, 59, isn't doing anything other than prescribing painkillers to patients who have run out of other treatment options.

"First off, bond has been posted and he is practicing medicine as if nothing has happened," Frisk said Friday, a day after Scott was arrested and a judge set his bail at $500,000. "We believe he will be vindicated."

The charges announced Friday stem from grand jury findings that Scott had 509 patients last summer whom he charged $130 a month for treatment. Scott doesn't accept insurance, only cash, checks or money orders, the grand jury said.

Scott spends very little time with his patients and doesn't even take vital signs "or provide any meaningful physical exam during office visits," Attorney General Tom Corbett said in a statement.

The grand jury found patients simply reported their physical condition, then requested either more, different or stronger painkillers, including OxyContin, Roxicodone, methadone, Endocet, fentanyl and Percocet.

Scott prescribed nearly 2.2 million painkiller doses from June 2007 to June 2008, which prompted the investigation. Undercover police and informants then began buying drugs from Scott's patients from July 2008 to July 2009, after which the case went to the grand jury, attorney general's spokeswoman Lauren Bozart said.

An expert examined some of Scott's patient files and determined Scott prescribed drugs even to patients clearly dependent on them, the grand jury said.

"Two million doses have an estimated street value of at least $50 million," Corbett said. "Patients filled the prescriptions for personal use and resold the pills on the streets of Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties."

Scott is charged with 21 counts of improperly prescribing drugs and seven counts of prescribing drugs to drug-dependent patients.

Eleven patients face at least one count each of reselling drugs they got from Scott.

Frisk, the defense attorney, said the case isn't about a crime, but a difference of opinion.

"They don't like the amounts he's prescribing and they're trying to squeeze him into statutes to make that a crime," Fritz said. "If they want to do away with pain management or make this illegal, they need to change the statutes."

"He only takes people who have no other options but painkillers," Frisk said. "One patient has four back operations and there's nothing else they can do for him. He can either live with pain for the rest of his life, or he can take pain medication."

Frisk said Scott is licensed to practice medicine in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, where he had been an emergency room physician near Detroit.

Frisk contends the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which licenses doctors to prescribe medicine, has agreed to not take action against Scott until these charges are resolved.

Frisk acknowledged that some of Scott's patients are drug-dependent but, even then, the doctor controls their increasing dosages and doesn't condone drugs being resold.

"We have time and time again spoken with the attorney general's office and told them if they felt any of our patients were doing anything improper we would work with them, and (state prosecutors) have turned their back on that option," Frisk said.

Bozart, the attorney general's spokeswoman, responded by saying, "Dr. Scott will have the opportunity to explain to a jury why he prescribed 60 percent more pain medication than any other doctor in Pennsylvania."

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Alhaji Umaru Abdul-Muttalab is the father of Farouk, who attempted to bomb an American aircraft last Christmas met with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday, April 08, 2010.

The meeting came ahead of Dr Jonathan’s visit to the United States tomorrow.

The Acting President is likely to raise the issue with President Barack Obama when they meet.

Dressed in a white babanriga, Mutallab came alone. He met with Dr Jonathan behind closed doors for about an hour.

The respected former bank chief declined comments when reporters sought to know what they discussed.

The Nation gathered that he was at the Presidential Villa to discuss his United States trip during which he met with American security officials in search of more information on his son’s activities.

The failed attack led the United States to include Nigeria on its terror watch-list – a development condemned by the government which demanded a reversal. Nigeria is off the list now.

Jonathan is visiting US on Obama’s invitation. During the visit, the acting president will attend a maiden nuclear security summit organised by the American government.

Dr Jonathan is expected back home on Thursday.

His visit is coming amid Washington’s concerns over the political situation in Nigeria.

The United States has been outspoken over the development, warning against heating up the polity.

After ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua was hurriedly brought back home, following Acting President Jonathan’s assumption of office, US warned that the President’s aides should not destabilise the country.

Talks on preventing global terrorism may top the agenda of both leaders.

Following the Christmas Day incident, Nigeria has started installing body scanners at its international airports after requests from the US, which first congratulated Jonathan after he became acting president in February.

US said it was encouraged that Jonathan would move on electoral reforms, anti-corruption measures and peace efforts in the Niger Delta.

On Monday, a senior U.S. official said the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu should be replaced if the country wants to hold credible national polls next year.

As part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, Nigeria and US on Tuesday in Washington launched an initiative for fostering greater cooperation.

The US-Nigeria Bi-national Commission (BNC) initiative was signed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Yayale Ahmed.

"Today, we are taking a concrete step forward that will strengthen and deepen the partnership between our two nations," Clinton said at a joint press conference with Ahmed.

"And we hope it will support the aspirations of the Nigerian people for a peaceful, prosperous, stable, democratic future," she added.

"Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, its largest contributor of peacekeepers, a significant trading partner of the United States, its largest producer of oil, and the largest recipient of direct investment by the American private sector in sub-Saharan Africa," Clinton said.

Clinton outlined four areas where working groups established under the initiative will focus - Good governance and transparency — considered essential to Nigeria’s democracy and its prosperity; Regional cooperation and development — to improve conditions in the oil-rich Niger Delta with specific emphasis on broad collaboration on security and counterterrorism.

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Alhaji Umaru Abdul-Muttalab

Written by George Oji in Abuja

Ahead of his three-day official trip to the United States (US) Acting President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with Umaru Abdul-Muttalab, the father of the 23-year-old Nigerian, Farouk, who attempted to bomb an American aircraft on Christmas Day last year.

Jonathan is traveling to the US on the invitation of President Barak Obama to attend a maiden Nuclear Security Summit organised by the US government.

The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations at the meeting. The Nigeria-US Bi-national Commission is on the agenda, in addition to global terrorism and counterterrorism measures.

US and Nigeria had signed the Bi-national commission agreement last Tuesday in Washington DC.

Also to be discussed at the meeting between Obama and Jonathan are issues of regional security and peace-keeping. Nigeria is Africa’s largest contributor to peace-keeping.

Muttalab was believed to have discussed his earlier trip to the US with Jonathan. During that trip, he met with American security officials regarding his son’s failed terror attack and for which the young man is being prosecuted.

The act had prompted the US to put Nigeria on a list of “countries of interest”, a development bitterly criticized by the Nigeria government. The list was however reviewed last weekend, with new measures superseding the terror watch list.

Mutallab came alone to the Presidential Villa and met with the Acting President behind closed doors for close to an hour. He did not speak to the press afterwards. The Acting President is expected back home by Thursday next week.

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Nwankwo Kanu, the man at the centre of the movie titled ‘Lion Heart: The Kanu Story’, has expressed his desire to include a reward system in the movie project for ball fans. Kanu, who expressed this desire at the unveiling of the first promotional poster for the movie during the week, explained his motive for such gestures.
My life story will be incomplete if I do not involve the fans who truly love me.

“Imagine those fans who approach me each time at the airport just to take a photograph with me; imagine how many homes have framed my pictures either while playing football or just walking down the street. To me, this is love, and I must show them I love them too. This movie project will not be complete without rewarding some of such people,” observed the Super Eagles and Portsmouth of England forward.

Lion Heart, which is currently being filmed in Nigeria, London, Amsterdam, the USA, South Africa and India, is slated for global premiere in September this year.

It is a documentary feature that chronicles Kanu’s inspiring rags to riches story from a unique perspective that delves into his journey into the world of soccer from his humble beginnings in Owerri, his struggle with a near-fatal heart condition at the peak of his football career and the heart surgery in Cleveland, Ohio. His tribulations and triumph at Arsenal, Ajax, Portsmouth and other big clubs in Europe are all well captured in this classic movie.

Neil Oyenekan, the producer of the movie, has assured that these fans would be part of the movie, pointing out “a great story is told from several perspectives and including the fans in the story of an African icon is a great idea”.

He added that besides getting the views of the regulars who may have had a personal or professional relationship with Kanu, it is quintessential to also document the pictorial experiences of those individuals who recognize and idolize Kanu without knowing what kind of person he is at close quarters; “we’d like to unravel the motive behind this adulation and know what the fans are thinking because you really have to admire someone before you walk up to him to request for a photo opportunity”, he noted.

Oyenekan hinted that there are fans who have taken more than a dozen photographs with Kanu over the years “and we would just like to see these pictures and also get more perspectives from the fans that had these pictures taken”.

James Amuta, the movie’s promoter, in a statement in Lagos, gave insights into the modalities for participating in the first of a series of fun-filled activities designed to reward the Kanu fans.

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ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (in every realms: songwriting, production, rendition and promotion) and acceptability (sales, popularity)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
The individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed songs/album in the year under review. His CV for the year includes top notch tracks and production credits no one can fault.

Thursday, April 8, 2010
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Mark Kerrigan

By DENISE LAVOIE, Associated Press Writer

BOSTON – The brother of figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was charged with manslaughter in the death of their 70-year-old father in what prosecutors called a violent attack during a "trivial" argument over use of the family telephone, the district attorney's office said Thursday.

Mark Kerrigan, 45, was indicted by a Middlesex Superior Court grand jury in the Jan. 24 death of Daniel Kerrigan. He had already been charged with assault.

Since being released on bail, he has been living with his mother in the family's home outside Boston in Stoneham, where the alleged assault took place.

"We allege that the defendant's violent reckless actions and complete disregard for his father's safety and well-being endangered Daniel Kerrigan's life and resulted in the substantial harm that led to his untimely death," District Attorney Gerry Leone said in announcing the indictment.

"This defendant should have known that the cruel acts that he committed against his elderly father, including grabbing him by the neck with enough force to cause a fracture, were highly likely to result in substantial harm and endanger his father's life," Leone said.

Members of the close-knit Kerrigan family have insisted they do not blame Mark Kerrigan for the death of his father, who had a pre-existing heart condition.

A state medical examiner said the cause of death was "cardiac dysrhythmia" — a loss or interruption of a normal heartbeat that can lead to cardiac arrest — after an altercation with neck compression that damaged his windpipe. The findings also noted that the elder Kerrigan had high blood pressure and clogged arteries.

Kerrigan's attorney, Janice Bassil, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. A spokeswoman for the Kerrigan family could not immediately be reached for comment.

Nancy Kerrigan, of Lynnfield, won the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France, and the silver at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. She won a gold medal at the 1993 U.S. Championships.

She was at the center of a saga at the U.S. Championships before the 1994 Games, when an assailant clubbed her right knee during practice and an investigation revealed rival Tonya Harding had knowledge of the planning of the attack.

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The lawyer for Santonio Holmes said today he is "more confident than ever" that the Steelers wide receiver will be cleared of any wrongdoing in a March 7 incident at an Orlando, Fla. nightclub.

Adam Swickle has concluded his own investigation, and he said he sent his findings via overnight mail to Orlando police yesterday.

He said Holmes did not throw a glass of liquor at Anshonae Mills, 21, as she told police the night of the incident and also alleged in a civil lawsuit filed against Holmes.

Swickle said the evidence he gathered is so overwhelming in Holmes' favor that he does not anticipate police to file charges after re-opening the case last week. He said he also he expects Mills' lawyers to drop the civil lawsuit.

He said they took the case as a publicity stunt and filed a lawsuit before adequately looking into Mills' claims that Holmes hit her in the face with a thrown glass after the two argued over a seat in a VIP section of Rain nightclub.

"This is nothing more than frivolous and extortion and we believe we are going to show that," Swickle said. "I have an obligation to defend (Holmes') reputation. These lawyers have recklessly tried to ruin that reputation with no investigation."

Mills is suing Holmes for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The University of Central Florida student is seeking more than $15,000 in damages.

Orlando police are still investigating the incident, Sgt. Barbara Jones said in an email. They had closed the case because Mills declined to press charges but they later re-opened it. Mills claims she was pressured at the scene not to press charges against Holmes.

Swickle would not disclose what specific findings he turned over to police because he said he does not want to compromise their investigation. Orlando police are expected to conclude their investigation later this week or early next week.

"We have sent certain information to the detectives that we believe is going to result in proof positive that Santonio Holmes did absolutely nothing wrong that night," Swickle said. "I don't think you can have any better evidence than what we just sent."

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U.S. Senator Robert Casey

By Adam Brandolph

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

After touring the Mexican War Streets on the North Side this morning, U.S. Senator Robert Casey, D-Pennsylvania announced he has requested $2 million to install additional security cameras throughout the city.

"Some days you get it right. One of the ways you get it right is by investing (money) in proven strategies that work," Casey said. "One of those strategies, one of those ways of preventing crime and solving crime after its commissioned is using security cameras."

Pittsburgh currently owns 22 surveillance cameras and access to an additional 300 cameras owned by Port Authority, PennDOT and private businesses, said Gwen Moorer, project manager for the city's Information Systems department. By the end of the year, the city will install about another 70 cameras with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, she said.

Last week a 15-second video clip from surveillance cameras at a North Side intersection led to the arrest of two teens accused of gunning down a retired city firefighter during a random robbery attempt. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl also announced last week a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University and the Community College of Allegheny County to seek a $16.5 million federal grant to buy and install 220 cameras around the city.

The $2 million Casey has requested must still pass through the Senate Appropriations Committee, the full Senate and House of Representatives.

"Every neighborhood probably wishes they could have a foot patrol or a beat patrol officer in their neighborhood and we know that's not possible," said police Chief Nate Harper. "But what is possible is having (this) technology in every neighborhood."

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Jon Gosselin plans to sue ex-wife Kate for primary custody of their eight children because her appearances on "Dancing With the Stars" have turned her into an absentee mom, a lawyer for the former reality show dad told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Jon Gosselin's new lawyer, Anthony List, said he plans to file papers in Berks County Court in Pennsylvania this week to reopen their divorce settlement.

Kate Gosselin on "Dancing With the Stars

List said that Kate Gosselin's participation in the smash ABC dance competition show has taken her away from the children, and that she has delegated most child-rearing responsibilities to three nannies.

"It's deplorable to make a comment like that," he said. "I know Kate Gosselin is all about her children, and she's always been about her children. Let him file what he says he's going to file and we'll respond accordingly."

The two formerly starred on the hit TLC reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8," which chronicled the lives of the Gosselins and their large brood -- twins and sextuplets -- at their home in eastern Pennsylvania. The show ended its run in November, and their divorce became final in December.

The no-fault divorce settlement gave Kate Gosselin primary custody of the children and the family home in Wernersville, Pa., about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

List said Kate Gosselin has been pursuing her career at the expense of the children.

"If she's truly committed and dedicated to these children, as I believe she is, then she should open her eyes and see what's happening to these children," List said. "Their life is topsy-turvy. Jon can give them stability."

He said Jon Gosselin also wants a modification of his $21,000-per-month child support obligation, an amount List called "horrific" given Kate's earning capacity.

"Dancing With the Stars" was America's most-watched show last week, outdrawing both editions of Fox's "American Idol" for the first time. Kate Gosselin also has a new book out this month, "I Just Want You to Know."

Jon Gosselin's pending court petition was first reported by the celebrity gossip site TMZ.com.

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Nicollette Sheridan, the actress who played a divorced real estate agent in ABC's "Desperate Housewives," filed suit against the show's creator and producer alleging assault and wrongful termination.

Nicollette Sheridan

In the lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Sheridan claims producer Marc Cherry hit her in the face on the Wisteria Lane set in September 2008.

The lawsuit seeks $20 million in sustained damages. The suit, which also names ABC, accuses Cherry of creating a hostile work environment on the set and behaving aggressively and abusively toward the cast and the writers

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Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey did not announce their marriage breakup by text message or electronic mail, but using a social network, Twitter. Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey decided to use Twitter as the medium of announcing their breakup to the general public.

The two actors each tweeted Tuesday that they have ended their relationship after five years. Publicists for Carrey and McCarthy confirmed the split.

Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy

The 48-year-old Carrey says on the social networking Web site that he wishes her "the very best!"

The 37-year-old McCarthy tweeted that she "will always keep Jim as a leading man in my heart."

Both say they were grateful for the time they spent together.

McCarthy promised in her tweet messages that she would remain involved in h Jim Carrey‘s adult daughter's life.

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Michelle “Bombshell” McGee’s full body of tattoos is revealing a little more about the fetish queen than she might want the public to know, like her ties to racist “white power” Nazi fetishism.

McGee jumped into the national spotlight after she claimed she had an 11-month affair with Sandra Bullock’s husband, Jesse James, who once starred on reality show “Monster Garage” and makes custom motorcycles.

The explosive revelations tarnished Bullock’s recent Oscar win for her role in the movie, “The Blind Side.”

Michelle McGee’s Nazi Fetish Photo (Photo Credits -TMZ)

Bullock praised James during her acceptance speech and said she hoped to be spending many years to come with him and his three children by three different women.

McGee told friends she hoped to publicize her and boost her career by detailing her tryst to InTouch magazine. McGee, who has a child, was reportedly paid $30,000 for the information.

But the latest revelations about her white power ties and a series of photographs of her posing in Nazi regalia have turned sentiment sharply against her.

Today, friends tried to diffuse the situation by claiming McGee is actually a warm caring person. But her background as a stripper, fetish-model and serial philanderer are working against her.

McGee sports the letters W and P, behind the knee on each leg. The initials stand for “white power.”

Apparently the Web site was tipped by her ex-husband, who is in a bitter custody fight with McGee over their child. Court papers claim she “makes the Nazi salute,” and has a swastika tattooed on her stomach.

McGee also made public sleazy text messages from James that he sent to her during their 11-month affair.

“There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me,” James said Thursday in his only public statement. “It’s because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way.”

The reality star claimed the “vast majority of the allegations reported are untrue and unfounded” but did not deny the affair.

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Nike, the world renowned Sports clothing company, has aired a controversial television advertisement featuring golfer Tiger Woods and the voice of his late father.

The commercial directly refers to Woods' personal problems and was timed to coincide with the eve of his return to competitive golf.

In the 33-second black and white advertisement, Woods looks directly into the camera without speaking while a recording of his late father is heard, talking about taking responsibility.

"Tiger, I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion," Earl Woods says.

"I want to find out what your thinking was; I want to find out what your feelings are.

"Did you learn anything?" Earl Woods died in 2006. Some critics have said the advertisement, which has aired on ESPN and the Golf Channel, is "creepy".

Woods is returning to golf after several months out of competition following revelations of infidelities and a stint in rehab.

Nike Inc. is one of the few sponsors to stand by Woods during the scandal.

But he lost top endorsements from companies such as Accenture LLP and AT&T Inc. as the story unfolded. Other companies like Procter&Gamble Co.'s Gillette unit, didn't drop him outright, although it stopped featuring him in advertisements.

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On Wednesday night, Miss Coudrietl’s Facebook and Twitter pages had been deleted because of the overflowing messages she was receiving from the social networks’ e-mail accounts.

The media coverage of the illicit sexual affairs has been an agonizing, frustrating and traumatizing moment for Ms. Coudriet and her family. Ms. Coudriet and her family who had always lived a private life in their exclusive gated community have been caught in the media web coverage of Tiger Woods’s extra marital affairs.

Rachael Coudriet said. “I wanted to dig a hole, crawl in and die.” The young woman said, “I felt used and violated, like I meant nothing to him but a night of casual sex.”

Rachael Coudriet who would be the youngest of Woods’ dozen or so mistresses was also seduced by Tiger Woods’s dirty text messages. For example, the National Enquirer reported that Mr. Tiger Woods have sent numerous texts to Miss Coudriet last year. In one of text messages Tiger Woods sent Rachael Coudriet, he joked about her “cleaning his golf balls.”

Coudriet reportedly confronted Tiger Woods, and she expressed how she felt about the illicit sexual affair she had with Tiger Woods in strong terms. In her own words, she told married Tiger Woods, “I extremely violated by what you did to me.” Tiger Woods reportedly responded that he was deeply sorry about his deeds and actions.

Rachael Coudriet

Ms. Coudreit may be angling for a payoff. Some of Woods’ other alleged mistresses received or were offered payments. Uchitel, one of Tiger Woods mistresses, allegedly collected $10 million to maintain her silence.

The world’s number one golfer, who returns to action at the US Masters in Augusta on Thursday, has known Ms. Rachael Coudriet since she was 14. Tiger Woods nurture a friendship relationship with Rachael Coudriet through her teenager age.

On May 29, 2009, Woods is said to have texted Miss Coudriet to invite her to a party in Isleworth. Tiger Woods arranged to meet Ms.Coudriet after the party, and picked her up in his family Escalade, making out with her within sight of his home.

Tiger’s sexual advances started in his car, while Elin Nordegren, Tiger Woods’ wife, was home, and ended with a two-hour sex session on the couch in Tiger’s private office,

Earlier this week Tiger again publicly apologized for letting down wife Elin Nordegren, 30, over his affairs with at least 15 women.

The latest revelations come as Woods prepares to tee-off the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia on Thursday, April 08, 2010. This would mark Tiger’s first return to pro golf since the scandal broke last November.

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Governor Gbenga Daniel

Third Republic Senator, Jubril Martins-Kuye, and a management specialist, Najeem Awodele were sworn-in as ministers by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. If Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel had his way, they would not be ministers. But Daniel proposed, Jonathan had his way. Now, Martins-Kuye is trying to settle down as Minister of Commerce and Industry, while Awodele is adjusting to his new life as Minister of State for Agriculture.

Both men were thrown up by political intrigues, with Daniel at the losing end. The Gateway State has never been bereft of intrigues and tension, especially since Daniel took charge in 2003. In the last seven years when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been the party in power, there has been no dull moment.

It is believed that Martins-Kuye and Awodele’s elevation to the status of ministers was calculated, not only to slap Daniel but also to whittle down his power and influence at the centre, while at the same time strengthen the camp of the founding fathers of Ogun PDP, so that they could have an upper hand in who gets what elective office, in 2011.

And Daniel, it was learnt, having failed to push his men through to the ministerial offices, subtly instigated the outcry of marginalisation by Ogun West indigenes, marketing the idea through proxies that he had laboured to help the district get what was their due but was thwarted again by forces bent on playing "bad politics."

Senator Ayo Otegbola told The Nation during the week that what happened with ministerial appointees did not only fall short of natural justice but was also at variance with the established standard in Ogun politics.

Otegbola said: "We will continue to agitate for just treatment until we are fairly treated and given what is our due. It is the normal practice that the district that produces the Governor nominates the people for ministerial appointment.

"Gbenga Daniel is from Ogun East and should have done the nomination but what is happening is that the people who want to nominate (future) governor also want to nominate the ministers," Otegbola said.

The people of Yewa last week massed up in their thousands first at Ita–Oshin and later at Lalubu Street in Abeokuta before terminating the unprecedented protest at the Oke–Mosan Governors Office recently. They called on Jonathan to withdraw names of JMK and that of Awodele and replace them with nominees of Ogun West extraction.

Daniel was said to have submitted the names of Akogun Kola Onadipe (Ogun East), Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, (Ogun Central) and Chief Iyabo Apampa (Ogun West). Some said Apampa’s name was not on the list and that the third person was Dr. Abayomi Majekodunmi, his Chief of staff, also from the Central district.

Daniel blamed the ordeal of the Ogun West people on a handful "politicians" whom he said are playing "bad politics" out of "selfish interest."

The Nation gathered that three persons nominated by Daniel were rejected by the Presidency. The triple forces of power tussle in Ogun State chapter of the PDP, its factionalisation, the attendant strategising of the opposing gladiators ahead of 2011 and the inability of the governor to obtain enough endorsement for his candidates by Ogun indigenes at the National Assembly accounted for their undoing.

Apampa, for example, was endorsed by only one lawmaker of Ogun extraction at the National Assembly, prompting the Presidency to conclude that the rift in Ogun PDP was not only real and deepening, but also that both the governor and his nominees may not be enjoying enough support at the home front.

Although, Daniel has assured Ogun West people that their complain of marginalisation over ministerial appointment would be communicated to the Acting President, he advised them to remain "firm" so that it would not be in vain but it is yet to be seen how far he can help the district achieve the desired redress.

However, a member of G-15 lawmakers, Hon. Remmy Hazzan, denounced the anti-Kuye protest saying the protesters "acted in bad faith." Hazzan, representing Odogbolu state constituency, said the protest march staged against Kuye and Awodele neither reflected the true picture of things in the Gateway State nor that of the PDP. He said the protest was the handiwork of Daniel, whom he accused of always fomenting trouble whenever he fails to have his way.

According to Hazzan, the initial list submitted to the Presidency by Daniel bears names of nominees from Ogun East and Ogun Central and that the impression being created that the list originally contained the name of Apampa from Ogun West was an "after thought."

His words: "It was after the governor saw the futility of this list that he withdrew it and added Apampa. This idea of people whipping up sentiments should be discouraged. All this opposition is the handiwork of the governor, who does not want to lose anything. "Anything he loses, he wants to destroy. The list he initially forwarded to the Acting President had on it the names of Chief Kola Onadipe (state Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development); Dr. Yomi Majekodunmi (the Chief of Staff) and Mrs. Lola Edewor. Are these people from Ogun West?"

While the political intrigues over ministerial appointment persisted, neither the governor nor any of the political and opinion leaders from Ogun West has had publicly told the people who shortchanged the district over Apampa and others.

The thinking in some quarters is that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Speaker Dimeji Bankole did the job in favour of their own. This much was confirmed by Bankole himself on Easter Day when at his induction as member of the Abeokuta Club, he told the gathering that when the opportunity presented itself, he facilitated the positioning of Mr. Awodele, for ministerial office.

"Aside from physical projects, I have been able to influence the appointment of Ogun state indigenes as federal ministers… We thank God that he has given another Egba man a higher position. We just have to wait until it is announced," Bankole said.

Alhaji Sule Onabiyi, the board Chairman of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Alhaji Wasiu Dawodu have described Kuye and Awodele as illustrious and qualified sons of the state.

Noting that Kuye, for example, is a Harvard trained gentleman with tested political pedigree and service in Ogun State and the nation, Onabiyi said as a foundation member of PDP, Kuye contested as governor of the state with his political structure that spread across the four divisions of Ogun.

‘’We therefore wonder at what point, these two illustrious sons and party men became unacceptable to some people in spite of their pedigree and service to Ogun State and Nigeria’’he said.

Onabiyi also wondered how the party and Daniel could nominate, Oyesiku, a civil servant at Tai Solarin University of Education for ministerial office, whereas avalanche of competent and qualified loyal party men existed.

With the eventual swearing-in of Martins-Kuye and Awodele, Daniel has lost another ground. This will certainly have an impact on his influence on the Ogun political space as 2011 draws nearer.

One of them, who pleaded for anonymity, later relived their meeting with Yar’Adua.

"It will be the miracle of the century if the President returns to office," he said.

The cleric, who spoke outside the Villa, said Yar’Adua was really in a bad shape when the team met with him.

He said: "The truth of the matter is that if we are to start saying what we saw, we would be seen as rocking the boat and abusing our privilege to the State House. But the gospel truth is, the man is in a terrible state.

"He was motionless, just lying on a chair without talking or shaking. Though his eyes were wide open, one could not say for sure if he was really seeing anything or anybody. So, the information that he shook hands and looked well remains a far cry from what we saw."

The cleric explained that judging by the President’s state, it would take "a big heart of faith to believe he can survive. In fact, I left feeling like it would be the miracle of the century for him to recover and return to office".

On why the clerics did not speak on their visit, he said: "You must realise we are not under any obligation to disclose what we saw. I think it is the duty of the Presidency to inform the public of the President’s condition. Moreso, we were only invited to pray, not for fact-finding. So, people should understand it would be difficult for us to say this and this is what the President looks like."

The team, he said would pay more of such visits to the Presidential Villa. "The meeting is a continuum. We hope God heals the man because he appears to have a good heart," said the cleric.

Earlier at the Villa, the clerics were seen by our reporter leaving Jonathan’s office in company of Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, John Okpara.

They discussed briefly at the corridor of the Villa before moving to the car park.

They kept mum as reporters bombarded them with questions. "Why are you here sirs?

"Has it anything to do with your visit to the President on Monday? What did you discuss with him?"

Kure and Obaje had told reporters that they came to pray for the President’s quick recovery.

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Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Former Vice President of Nigeria

By Idris Akinbajo

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar may return to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday, April 10. The return may however be delayed if Murtala Nyako, the governor of Adamawa, Mr. Abubakar’s home state, is unavailable for the event.

“The governor wants to formally welcome him (Mr. Abubakar) into the party. He doesn’t want the ceremony to be done while he is away,” a close aide of Mr. Abubakar told NEXT.

Mr. Nyako is currently out of the country on an official visit.

The plan for Mr. Abubakar to return to the PDP, the party he left in 2006 because of disagreements with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was hatched last week when he met with his political associates.

Following the meeting, Mr. Abubakar again met with other close allies, including his running mate in the 2007 elections, Ben Obi, yesterday and his return to the PDP was finally endorsed by the group.

Garba Shehu, the head of media and publicity of the Atiku campaign organisation, said Mr. Abubakar’s associates took the decision after close consultation with Mr Atiku’s supporters in their various states.

“Associates of former vice president Abubakar have endorsed the return of the group to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The associates also set up a seven-member committee to ensure a smooth movement of the group into the PDP both at the centre and the states. At the meeting which dragged on to the early hours, all the states that completed their consultations reported an overwhelming support for a return to the PDP,” Mr. Shehu said yesterday in a press release.

Mr. Abubakar’s associates, according to the statement, also resolved to, “continue its support for an associate of the former vice president and the Action Congress candidate in the last Anambra State gubernatorial elections, Chris Ngige, who has an impeding matter at the election tribunal.”

Among those at the meeting were Lawal Kaita, former governor of Katsina State; Peter Okocha, the Action Congress gubernatorial candidate for Delta State in the 2007 elections; Tonye Princewill, the party’s gubernatorial candidate for Rivers State; and former minister, Dapo Sarumi. Funke Adedoyin, and Titi Ajanaku were also there.

Mr. Abubakar left the PDP in 2006 after his public disagreements with Mr. Obasanjo. The former vice president had objected to and mobilised against Mr. Obasanjo’s ambition to continue in office for a third term. In retaliation, he was initially disqualified from contesting the 2007 elections based on allegations of corruption but the Supreme court eventually cleared him to contest. He lost the election to President Umaru Yar’Adua and challenged the results up to the Supreme Court where he lost the case in a majority judgment of six justices to one.

However, he still has corruption charges hanging over him, including an investigation by a United States senate committee which reported that, “From 2000 to 2008, Mr. Abubakar and Ms. Douglas (his wife) used a network of accounts at U.S. financial institutions to bring over $40 million in suspect funds into the United States,

through multiple wire transfers supplied by offshore corporations located in Germany, Nigeria, Panama, the British Virgin Islands, and Switzerland.”

Mr Atiku also faces hurdles in his home state, including the opposition of Jubril Aminu’s group against his return to the party. Mr. Nyako, the state governor, is however at loggerheads with Mr. Aminu’s group and is expected to support Mr Atiku.

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LONDON (Reuters) – British actor Christopher Cazenove has died at the age of 64 after losing a battle with septicemia, his family said on Wednesday, the second "Dynasty" star to die in the past week.

Cazenove, who attended the upmarket school Eton College, made his name playing aristocratic roles in a string of British TV shows but was best known for playing the role of Ben Carrington in the glitzy U.S. soap opera "Dynasty."

Cazenove's death in a London hospital comes just days after the death of John Forsythe who also starred in the popular series that aired from 1981 until 1989.

"Christopher died peacefully on April 7 surrounded by his loved ones having contracted septicemia (blood poisoning) at the end of February," said a family statement released widely to the media through his agent, Lesley Duff.

"Despite a valiant fight and the untiring efforts of the wonderful team at St Thomas's (Hospital in London), he was overwhelmed. All who knew and loved him will be devastated by the loss of this incredible man who touched so many lives."

Cazenove was married to actress Angharad Rees for more than 20 years and they had two sons, but the eldest was killed in a car crash in 1999 aged 25.

Forsythe, who played Cazenove's brother Blake Carrington in Dynasty, died last week in Santa Ynez, California, at the age of 92 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Casenove first found fame in the 1970s British mini-series "The Duchess of Duke Street," and appeared on screen, stage and on radio. Following his Dynasty stint, he appeared in the Hollywood movie "Three Men and a Little Lady" in 1990 and "A Knight's Tale" in 2001.